Devon | county, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com county, England, United Kingdom county Devon, administrative, geographic, and historic county of England . It forms part of the South West (or Cornish) Peninsula of Great Britain and is bounded to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset . The Bristol Channel lies to the north, and the English Channel abuts it to the south. The shoreline of Lyme Bay at Sidmouth, Devon, England, looking west toward Peak Hill. A.F. Kersting The administrative, geographic, and historic counties cover slightly different areas. The administrative county comprises the districts of East Devon , Mid Devon , North Devon , South Hams , Teignbridge , and Torridge ; the borough of West Devon ; and the city of Exeter , the county seat. The geographic county of Devon is the third largest of that type in England. It encompasses the administrative county and the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay .

The historic county comprises the entire geographic county, as well as a small area along the border of the district of West Dorset in the administrative county of Dorset and a larger area extending west from Werrington along the River Otter within the historic district of North Cornwall in the Cornwall unitary authority. Within Devon’s boundaries is a wide variety of scenery, including Dartmoor National Park and, in the north, part of Exmoor National Park . Dartmoor , with shallow marshy valleys, thin infertile soils, and a vegetation of coarse grasses, heather, and bracken, is a granite plateau rising to above 2,000 feet (600 metres), the crests capped by granite tors (isolated weathered rocks); the moor is used for rough grazing, reforestation, reservoirs, and military training and is a popular area for tourists. Exmoor , reaching elevations above 1,575 feet (480 metres), is another plateau where rough grazing and tourism are important, but it has more farmland than Dartmoor. Those two areas of moorland contain the main sources of rivers for the county.

From Dartmoor the rivers flow in a radial pattern to the north and south coasts and to the River Tamar (the Cornish boundary); from Exmoor they flow seaward via the River Exe and northward to the Bristol Channel. Much of central and northwestern Devon is given over to grassland. The soils in South Hams, south of Dartmoor, often produce good farmland. The most fertile soil is in southeastern Devon. The county’s generally mild climate becomes more extreme with elevation and distance from the sea, and rainfall increases from about 30 inches (760 mm) on the south coast to more than 60 inches (1,500 mm) on Exmoor and 80 inches (2,000 mm) on Dartmoor. Tor at Sharpitor, near Lustleigh in Dartmoor, Devon, England. © Martin Fowler/Shutterstock.com Wiltshire Prehistoric remains abound; they include the limestone caves near Torquay (including Kent’s Cavern , one of the two oldest human dwellings in Britain), numerous high-altitude Bronze Age remains on Dartmoor, and later Iron Age hill forts and earthworks fringing the moor and guarding river routes.

The largest, Hembury Fort, was probably the capital of the Dumnonii, a British tribe, until the foundation of Exeter as a Roman frontier station at the termination of Fosse Way . The Dumnonii survived the 7th-century Saxon conquests, but both Saxon and Briton became subjects of Wessex . Devon was recognized as a shire in the late 8th century and suffered subsequently from Danish raids (851–1003). The Saxons created four strongholds, called burhs, at Exeter, Barnstaple , Totnes , and Lydford. Exeter was taken by the Norman William I the Conqueror in 1068, and a castle was built there in 1348. The Normans also built castles at Totnes, Okehampton , and Plympton; those, like the burhs, acted as nuclei for the growth of towns. Cist near Yelverton, Devon, England. Herbythyme Tin mining on Dartmoor was important from the 12th to the 17th century, and the miners formed a separate community with its own courts.

The ports of Exeter, Plymouth, Barnstaple, and Dartmouth thrived from medieval times on the export of tin and cloth (a staple industry) until these both declined in the 19th century, causing rural depopulation that was alleviated only by the rise of tourism, which rapidly increased during the railway era. By the 19th century lead, silver, iron ore, copper, and manganese had all been worked. In 2006 the mine areas in West Devon and nearby Cornwall were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site . Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots Agriculture is Devon’s most valuable single economic activity; about 30 percent of the working population is dependent on agriculture and related industries. It is based on livestock (supported by permanent grassland and ley), cereals (especially barley), potatoes, market gardening, horticulture, fruit, and fodder crops. About 25 percent of the country is heath or moorland, providing rough grazing mainly on Exmoor and Dartmoor. Dairy cattle are most important in eastern, northwestern, and southern Devon, and Devonshire clotted cream is still produced. Beef cattle are raised throughout, especially in the south and west.

Sheep are important throughout the county, including Dartmoor and Exmoor, with the exception of eastern Devon. Between 1964 and 1980 the number of farm holdings fell by 25 percent, but the average size increased. Soft fruit and flowers are grown in sheltered areas, but traditional cider orchards are declining in acreage, and the cider is now produced in factories. Farm in the Blackdown Hills, near Newcott, Devon, England. Derek Harper British Culture and Politics Tourism dominates the coastal areas and is also significant in the rural interior. The main resorts, apart from Ilfracombe on the north coast, lie on the south coast and include Torbay (one of the country’s leading holiday resorts), Paignton, and Brixham . Both coasts abound with picturesque small towns and villages, such as Salcombe, Lynmouth, and Clovelly. Service trades employ two-thirds of the working population, more than the national average, reflecting the importance of tourism and the large retired population that is attracted by the mild winter climate and scenery. The coastal areas of East Devon, as well as those of neighbouring Dorset, were named a World Heritage site (2001).

Ilfracombe (district of North Devon), Devon, England. Adrian Pingstone Fishing is still important, especially at Brixham and Plymouth, which also has a naval base. Kaolin (china clay) from Dartmoor and ball clay from the Bovey basin are the chief mineral exports. Local industries include textiles (Tiverton), dairy produce (Totnes), glass (Dartington), woolens (Axminster), lace (Honiton), and the complex industries of the Devonport dockyard. Plymouth and Exeter are the main industrial centres, followed by Torbay, Barnstaple, and Newton Abbot . Connect with Britannica Devon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The English county of Devon lies on the southwestern peninsula of the island of Great Britain. It is bounded to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset. The Bristol Channel lies to the north, and the English Channel is to the south. Devon is an administrative, geographic, and historic county.

The administrative county comprises the districts of East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, and Torridge; the borough of West Devon; and the city of Exeter, the county seat. The geographic and historic counties of Devon cover slightly different areas. Article History Devon | County-Wise County-Wise Be County-Wise and get to know the Historic Counties! Search for: Devon Devon is large county in the southeastern corner of the land; only Cornwall lies beyond to the west. Devon has two seacoasts to north and south, with the Bristol Channel and English Channel respectively. Dorset and Somerset are to the east. Devonshire has a proud seagoing tradition. The Elizabethan navy that defeated the armada and “singed the King of Spain’s beard” was largely drawn from Devon. Sir Francis Drake was a Tavistock man. Only in recent years has the Royal Navy scaled down its dominant presence in Devonport in Plymouth. The southern coast is very lovely, rugged between Thurlestone and Salcombe, from where a network of craggy tidal creeks reaches deep into the land. Cliffs front the sea.

The northern coastline is remarkable for steep thickly-wooded cliffs between Lynmouth and Ilfracombe, while beyond the Taw and Torridge estuaries there is again magnificent coastal scenery around Clovelly, and from Hartland to the Cornish border. Inland most of southern Devon is Dartmoor, a bleak but picturesque landscape of granite hill country rising to over 2,000 feet in places. Tavistock is the Queen of Dartmoor, a fine granite-built town on the Tavy. In the north Exmoor begins, where the River Exe rises. There is rolling agricultural land to the north and in the east of the county, particularly along the Exe and Culm Valleys. Exeter, the county town, is a mixture of mediæval and modern. It lies on the Exe a short distance above its estuary. The Exe Valley runs almost the length of eastern Devonshire, north to south, with several smaller towns and picturesque villages of thatched cottages.

County Facts County Town: Exeter Main Towns: Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Dartmouth, Exeter, Exmouth, Ilfracombe, Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Sidmouth, Torquay, Paignton, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Tavistock. Main Rivers: Plym, Lyd, Tavy, Bovey, Dart, Avon, Teign, Exe, Taw, Tamar, Yealm. Highlights: Dartmoor; Exeter Cathedral; Exmoor; Lynton/Lynmouth; Plymouth. Highest Point: High Willhays, 2039 feet. Area: 2,405 square miles Devon Map - West Country, England - Mapcarta West Country Devon Loading… Devon is a large county in England's West Country , bordered to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset. Uniquely amongst English counties, Devon has two separate coastlines: to the south, on the English Channel and to the north, on the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel.

Plymouth is a city in Devon, and currently the largest city on England 's south coast, with a population of about 250,000. Loading… Exeter is the county town of Devon and historically the administrative capital of the south-west peninsula. Loading… Dartmoor National Park covers a large area of Devon in the West Country of England . Loading… Dartmouth is an town in Devon. A historic port location, Dartmouth 's geography and seaside location combined with its traditional architecture make it an idyllic settlement popular with tourists from around Britain and the near continent. Loading… Torquay is an English town on the coast of Devon in the West Country and, since the 19th century, a fashionable seaside resort in the English Riviera. Loading… Princetown is a town in Devon, within the Dartmoor National Park . It's connected by the B3212 withYelverton, where it joins the A386 to Plymouth. Loading… Lundy is an island 3 miles long and 1/2 mile wide off the north coast of Devon in the south west of the United Kingdom , where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Loading… Teignmouth is a coastal town in South Devon. It is situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign in an area of the South Devon coast that is famed for its red sandstone cliffs. Loading… Exmouth is in Devon. Exmouth is a seaside town situated where the Exe Estuary joins the sea. Loading… Exmoor National Park is situated in the south west of the United Kingdom. Loading… Tavistock is a town in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor . It was the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. Loading… Sidmouth is a seaside resort town in Devon. Host to an international folk music festival for one week every year, for the other 51 weeks, Sidmouth is a very pleasant but small beach-side town. Loading… Topsham is a small town in Devon in England's West Country . Topsham is now a part of Exeter , but was formerly a town in its own right. Loading… Buckfastleigh is a town in Devon. Loading… Paignton is a town in England . Quail By Mail is a ladies working fashion design studio 2 miles away from the Paignton town centre.

Loading… West Devon | district, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com district, England, United Kingdom Walsall West Devon, borough (district), administrative and historic county of Devon , southwestern England . The borough lies directly north and east of the city of Plymouth . West Devon encompasses most of Dartmoor in the county’s southeast and is separated from the county of Cornwall on the west by the narrow lowland valley of the River Tamar . The small market and administrative centres of Tavistock and Okehampton are located on the southwestern and northern edges of Dartmoor, respectively. Buckland Abbey, near Tavistock, West Devon, Devon, Eng. Nilfanion The wild upland area of Dartmoor comprises about half of West Devon and has an elevation of 1,000 to 2,000 feet (305 to 610 metres); it is rough grazed by hardy breeds of sheep (such as Blackface) and wild ponies. The poorly drained clay soils of the lower-lying dissected plateau in the northern and western parts of the district are grazed by both sheep and cattle, and some cereals and fodder crops are cultivated .

The mixed farming of early-season vegetables, fruits, pigs, and poultry is pursued in the lower Tamar valley near Plymouth. West Devon was a centre of prehistoric, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman settlement and of tin and, later, copper and lead mining; remains of those periods of occupation or exploitation, including cairns, clapper bridges, and extant medieval farmhouses, are found throughout the district. In 2006 the mines in West Devon and nearby Cornwall county were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site . The site of Morwellham, an early 19th-century copper-shipping port on the River Tamar southwest of Tavistock, has become an open-air museum of industrial archaeology, where remains of inclined planes, quays, waterwheels, and the harbour itself have been preserved. The 13th-century Buckland Abbey south of Tavistock was lived in by the families of Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake , both famous seafarers, and contains a maritime history museum. The austere granite Castle Drogo on the northeastern edge of Dartmoor is Great Britain’s last private home built (1910–30) on a grand scale.

Dartmoor Prison , 7 miles (11 km) east of Tavistock, is England’s principal correction centre for serious offenders. Area 448 square miles (1,160 square km). Pop. (2001) 48,843; (2011) 53,553. Learn More in these related articles: Devon travel guide - Wikitravel 16 Get out Devon [1] (also known, far less commonly, as "Devonshire") is a large county in England 's West Country . It is bordered to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset . Uniquely amongst English counties, Devon has two separate coastlines: to the south is on the English Channel and to the north, the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel. They are studded with resort towns, harbours and (more recently) surfing beaches. Devon is also home to two National Parks ( Dartmoor and Exmoor ) and includes the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel/Irish Sea. Note that Exmoor is shared with Somerset, which has the larger share.

Devon is one of Britain's most popular summer holiday areas and with good reason, with a scenic coastline and white sand beaches, turquoise waters, good sailing and surfing opportunities and accommodation for a variety of different budgets. Only Cornwall and South-West Wales can really compare. Ilfracombe, Devon Regions[ edit ] Like it's Celtic neighbour of Cornwall, Devon boats two very different coastlines. South Devon located on the English Channel comprises the relatively gentle, pastoral coastline of the Exe estuary, Torbay (the "English riveria"), the South Hams including the very expensive estuary towns of Dartmouth and Salcombe - which is currently Britain's most expensive coastal location, outperforming even Sandbanks in Dorset - and the elegant city of Exeter, and wonderfully cited although drab looking Plymouth. Mid Devon, located between the two coastlines, is relatively quiet with its classic Devonian landscape of thatched cottages, rolling green hills and bubbling river valleys. North Devon is a very different proposition altogether, located on the Bristol Channel which meets the Celtic Sea at Hartland Point.

Where as South Devon is soft and gentle, North Devon has a very raw, cut-throat even guttural coastline - starting at the massive hog back cliffs of coastal Exmoor, which tumble down to the Bristol Channel culminating at the gigantic Great Hangman, the highest cliff in the West Country at 1043 ft. Exmoor ends, giving way to the harbour town of Ilfracombe, which in turn drops down to Bideford Bay, one of Britain's prime surfing locations (see below) with its superb white sand beaches and also harbouring quaint coastal villages such as Bucks Mills and Clovelly. Bideford Bay ends at stormy Hartland Point, which marks the boundary of the Bristol Channel, and also nearly the end of Devon and the begining of Cornwall's Celtic Sea/Atlantic coast. Coastal property in North Devon is significantly less than it's southern seaboard, but netherless still some of the highest coastal prices in the UK - particularly the main surfing villages of Croyde and Woolacombe which thanks to their access to the Atlantic surf zone can always attract a premium on any property.

Understand[ edit ] The name "Devon" derives from the Celtic people who inhabited the southwest of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion, the Dumnonii. Devon's flag is green, with a black and white cross. Devon has produced tin, copper and other metals throughout its history. Tin was found in the granite of Dartmoor, and copper in the areas around the moor. In the eighteenth century, Devon Great Consols mine (near Tavistock ) was believed to be the largest copper mine in the world. Devon has the highest coastline in southern England and Wales on its Exmoor seaboard. The "hob-backed" hills of the Exmoor national park tumble down to the coast on Devon's Bristol Channel coast, culminating at the awesome "Great Hangman", a 318m (1043ft) hill with a cliff-face of 250m (820ft), while the "Little Hangman" has a cliff-face of 218m (716ft).

The best way to see these cliffs is from a boat trip from Ilfracombe or (occasionally) Lynmouth or Swansea ; the ferry service from Penarth in South Wales to Ilfracombe also passes by this massive coastline (see below). Devon's Hartland point is the south-west limit of the Bristol Channel; in other words where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic ocean. The northern limit is St Anne's Head in Pembrokeshire , forty-eight miles from Hartland Point. Many of the rocks that make up Devon are exceptional geological specimens consisting of the geological period between 416 million years ago and 360 million years ago. It was in homage to this that the period was called the Devonian. Devon is unique in that it surrounded by three of the Celtic nations - Wales to the north across the Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea, Cornwall West across the Tamar Valley, while Brittany lies due south across the English Channel/Atlantic Ocean.

Although not a Celtic nation in its own right, Devon netherless shares many similarities with its Celtic neighbours; Exmoor/North Devon has the same reddish-brown sandstone as found in the nearby Gower Peninsula ; the granite of Dartmoor is exactly the same as found in Bodmin Moor and the Penwyth peninsula while the extrusive igneous rocks of South Devon can exactly be found in Brittany - probably because, before at one time Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Brittany and South-West Ireland were part of the same landmass. In 2007, BBC "Coast" presenter Neil Oliver travelled to Devon and Cornwall for DNA testing of West Country lineage and found that - overwhelmingly- that both Cornish and Devonians were of ancient British/Celtic stock. Like its neighbours in Wales, Ireland and Cornwall, Devon was not fully conquered by the Romans - the leigons established a dwelling in Exeter , most likely as a frontier post - but the rest of Devon was relatively untouched by the might of Rome - the wet, boggy moorland of Exmoor and Dartmoor no doubt providing an excellent barrier to the Roman war machine. This probably explains why the ancient Celtic DNA of Devon (and Cornwall) survives.

Another Celtic connection is the fact, until the 20th century, the best way to travel was by sea - so, for example, it was easier for the population of North Devon to sail to the Vale of Glamorgan / Swansea and the Gower Peninsula than to travel the dangerous, bandit ridden country lanes eastwards to Somerset and Dorset - likewise, South Devon had strong links to Brittany and South Cornwall yet the rest of Southern england, was, until the arrival of the railway/car, a distant place. Another "Celtic" connection is North Devon's surf culture found in Bideford Bay - like Ireland, Cornwall, Wales and Ireland surfing has becomne something of a cult lifestyle of the wind swept butterscotch beaches of Bideford Bay. Devon's Geological Sites include: Dawlish Sea Wall, fine examples of wind blown 'Young Red Sandstone' deposits with Langstone rock, a 250 million year old Conglomerate rock Exeter Castle is situated on an old volcano (volcanic rocks were used in the construction of the Roman buildings) and there are fine exposures of Limestone in Torquay. By train[ edit ] Exeter has two main train stations, St.

Davids (where most long-distance services call,) and Central. Central, unsurprisingly, is closer to the centre of town, but the two are within a short walk of one another. If visiting from Cornwall , the railway will take you across the Royal Albert Bridge from Saltash (in Cornwall ) into Devon. When crossing this bridge, you will enjoy marvelous views of the River Tamar, which it crosses. If visiting from the south, the railway line between London (Waterloo) and Exeter via Salisbury will transport you into east Devon, with connections with other parts of Devon at Exeter (St Davids station). If visiting from Somerset and places north of London and Bristol , the Great Western Main Line will take you to Tiverton Parkway station (a short drive from Tiverton itself) and then to Exeter . It will then carry on to Newton Abbot (where the line to Torquay and Paignton diverges from the main line) to Plymouth and then to Cornwall . By road[ edit ] The M5 is the only motorway to enter Devon. Coming from Bristol from the north-east, it terminates in Exeter, where it continues on as the A38 towards Plymouth and into Cornwal.

It also branches off north at Exeter onto the A30 which serves North Devon via Okehampton and then carries on into Cornwall. The M5 can get very congested during the popular holiday periods and it only takes an accident to bring the whole route to a standstill. If you are travelling to Devon by car it is recommended that you travel either early in the morning or later at night to avoid the holiday build up. There is a once-daily Megabus service to Exeter from London Victoria (and vice versa,) but this ultra-economy service can be very uncomfortable and very late. A park and ride service is available, see National Park and Ride Directory [2] By boat[ edit ] As of 2015, there is no ferry service between North Devon and Wales. It was once possible to travel to Ilfracombe in North Devon from Penarth and Swansea in South Wales on the paddle steamers Waverly and Balmoral, but these have long since stopped running. There is also a strong possibility of a fast catermaran Ilfracombe ferry [3] to Swansea in a year or two's time, although this seems to be getting less and less likely as time goes on.

There are regular ferry services to France from Plymouth with Brittany Ferries. These usually travel to Roscoff or St Malo in Britanny . There is also a weekly service to Santander in northern Spain. By plane[ edit ] After the closure of Plymouth Airport in 2011, there is now only one airport in Devon. Exeter International, is the only airport in Devon and has regular scheduled direct flights to Paris CDG, Amsterdam, Manchester, Dublin, Aberdeen, Leeds Bradford, Belfast, Jersey, Guernsey, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow as well as charter and scheduled services to Spain. There are seasonal services from Germany, Croatia, Switzerland and regional cities in France. Most services are operated by Flybe [4] with Air France [5] codesharing on services from France. Air Transat [6] also operates a scheduled service to Toronto, Canada.

[7] Although not in Devon, it is possible to travel to nearby Bristol International Airport, which is a major base for both budget airlines Easyjet and Ryanair with nearly 80 destinations including: Amsterdam also with KLM, Paris also with Air France, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Prague, Krakow, Bratislava, Kaunas and Riga (but not London). From Bristol Airport it is possible to either hire a car, or get a bus to the city bus and train stations, where you can continue your journey to Devon. Get around[ edit ] Latitudes and Longitudes in Devon can be obtained from an interactive travel map at Stairway to Devon . Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Surfing in Bideford Bay[ edit ] Along with its nearby neighbours of North Cornwall (the areas around Bude , Padstow Newquay and Perranporth ) and the Gower Peninsula across the Bristol Channel in South West Wales, North Devon's magnificently curved Bideford Bay is one the top surfing attractions in the UK, mainly because just like Cornwall and Gower, Bideford Bay faces westward into the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The main surf areas are the white-sand beaches of Woolacombe , Putsborough, Croyde, Staunton and Westward Ho! Croyde in particular is rated as one of the best breaks in the West Country, as at low tide it boasts fast, hollow waves - just like Fistral or Langland's Bay Crab Island. Be warned however - in the summer Croyde gets extremely congested (both beach and village) and the car parking prices can seem unreasonable in the extreme - during the peak summer holiday months just trying to get into Croyde can be a nightmare, and the impossibly narrow main road into the village doesn't help matters. Fortunately, the nearby Woolacombe and Staunton offer plenty of parking spaces and beach space- even on a hot summers day during the school holidays there is always plenty of spare space available.

If you're driving from the Ilfracombe area during the summer and wish to visit one of the Bideford Bay beaches then Woolacombe is probably the best bet - just a five minute drive from Ilfracombe, good parking (and more reasonably priced than Croyde), lots of space, excellent surf rental opportunities and plenty of places for food and drink, although in the peak summer months prices are a bit inflated, although that is true of food outlets around Bideford Bay - especially Croyde. A good idea is to buy very thick surfing boots just in case you step on a weaver fish which can cause a very nasty searing pain in your foot (think of walking on glass) - weaver fish are a big problem around Devon, Cornwall and Wales - just ask the lifeguards and surf shops!(see below) Ironically, Bideford Bay falls relatively quiet during the autumn and winter months in terms of cars and people - ironic, as this is usually the premier surfing time! From September to February a generous Atlantic swell and an on shore wind combine to make ideal surfing conditions in Devon, Cornwall and Wales.

Although the temperatures are very cold, the days short and usually rain lashed and very windy, hardcore surfers prefer the dark winter months in Bideford Bay for the conditions potentially make for some tasty waves and meaty swells. Most winter wet suits can cope with the very cold water in any case. What's more, during the winter "off season" parking, accommodation and eatery prices are substantially reduced, and getting in and out of Croyde is much less of a problem!! Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The cream tea, involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is a local speciality which is thought to have originated from Tavistock over a thousand years ago [16] (although neighbouring counties also claim it); in many countries, however, this combination is known as Devonshire Tea. It is also popular in Cornwall with the only real difference being the order in which it is spread.

In Devon the preferred method is cream first then the jam, whereas in Cornwall it is the other way around [17] The pasty, a filled pastry case differing from a pie in that it is made by placing the filling on a flat pastry shape, usually a circle, and folding it to wrap the filling, crimping the edge to form a seal. The result is a raised semicircular package. The traditional pasty is filled with beef, sliced potato, turnip or swede (also known as a rutabaga) and onion and then baked. The origins of the pasty are hotly contested between Devon and Cornwall with both sides claiming the fame. Either way, the pasty is a traditional West Country recipe and is worth trying if you are visiting. South Devon Crab is regarded as some of the best in the world and its stocks are plentiful and sustainably fished. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants, cafes and pubs to try this local produce. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Cider- Really traditional Devon scrumpy (scrumpy being the name for farm cider) looks like bright orange juice with bits of apple floating in it. It is made using Devon apples, cider mills and cider presses.

Traditionally, scrumpy was made using the wind fall apples. They would be bruised, and not suitable for eating or cooking. However a windfall apple is just right for scrumpy, they would not be quite ripe, so would be sharper and drier. They would have impurities from the ground, which helped fermentation. Scrumpy tends to be quite strong in alcohol and requires a certain degree of caution if you aren't used to drinking it (it can act as a laxative). Beer - Devon is very well served for microbreweries with 29 breweries that were active in the county. The Campaign for Real Ale or CAMRA has details of Devon breweries. [18] Gin - Plymouth Original Strength Gin is 41.2% alcohol by volume. It has a distinctively different, slightly less dry flavour than the much more commonly available London Dry Gin, as it contains a higher than usual proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more 'earthy' feel to the gin, as well as a smoother juniper hit.

There is also a 'navy strength' variety available which is 57% alcohol by volume (100° English proof), being the traditional strength demanded by the British Royal Navy as this was the proof that would not prevent gunpowder from igniting, should it be compromised by spilled spirit Wine - Eastcott Vineyard makes sparkling wines by the traditional method and offers guided tours. [19] Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] Hawley Farm Holiday Lets, EX137HR, ☎ +44 1404 831250 ( info@hawleyfarm.co.uk ), [20] . edit Peaceful getaway in a unique secluded location. Owners were very friendly when we visited. If you're interested in farming, then they offer a free tour of different aspects of the farm (dairy, sheep, beef, arable). Helpful Holidays Westcountry holiday cottage agency sleeping between 2 to over 40 people! Stayed with them once before, they are all that their name suggests. Discovery Holiday Homes Devon holiday home agency based in Torquay.

Had a lovely time at "the Balcony" [21] Stay safe[ edit ] Devon is a very safe place to live and visit. Crime levels are well below the average for England in part a reflection of Devon's rural population distribution. Bideford Bay has magnificent surf beaches, but unfortunately, like its neighbours in South-West Wales and Cornwall it attracts legions of weaver fish, especially during the warm summer months. Stepping on one of these nasty specimens is comparable to walking on broken glass. Fortunately, most lifeguards on patrolled beaches have plenty of experience with this nasty experience. A good idea is to wear very thick surf boots that provide a decent level of protection. GLBT[ edit ] The larger towns and cities in Devon have small but developing lesbian and gay communities, notably in Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter. Plymouth and Exeter have annual Pride events. In the more rural areas of Devon, homophobia can be common, and discretion is advised. Get out[ edit ] The county of Cornwall lies to the west of Devon, Dorset and Somerset to the east and to the north.

Walkingworld - England - South West England - Devon England > South West England > Devon Walks in Devon Devon is one of England’s southernmost counties, and also one of the largest, covering 2591 sq.miles. Cornwall lies to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. The northern and southern coasts offer some of Britain’s most spectacular scenery, ranging from sandy beaches to rugged cliffs. The climate is also relatively mild, particularly during the summer when tourists flock to the coastal resorts. It’s not surprising that it is one of Britain’s most popular walking destinations. At 613 miles, the South West Coast Path is the country’s longest National Trail. It starts at Minehead in Somerset, runs along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, and ends at Poole in Dorset. At 1,043ft (318m), Great Hangman on the north coast of Devon is the highest point along the trail. Keen hikers can descend from here into Combe Martin and follow the coast to Ilfracombe, where the beach provides a break from strenuous walking. Heading inland, Dartmoor National Park stretches over 369 sq.miles.

It’s advisable to carry a compass, map and weather-proof clothing if you venture across this expansive area. There are also restrictions on where you can roam; for example, the Ministry of Defence has firing ranges in the northern area. To the north, Exmoor National Park stretches 267sq. miles (691sq. km.) over the borders of Somerset and Devon. Exmoor’s moorland stretches up to the northern coast, offering dramatic, cliff-top views and, depending on the season, the vivid sight of bell heather and western gorse. Devon A complete index to Martyn's large map of the county of Cornwall : and of those parts of the county of Devon, which lie to the West of the River Tamar. To which is added A short account of the archdeaconry of Cornwall. (Book, 1816) [WorldCat.org] The E-mail message field is required. Please enter the message. E-mail Message: I thought you might be interested in this item at Title: A complete index to Martyn's large map of the county of Cornwall : and of those parts of the county of Devon, which lie to the West of the River Tamar.

To which is added A short account of the archdeaconry of Cornwall. Author: James Liddell; Thomas Martyn; Law and Whittaker, Publisher: Bodmin : And sold by Law and Whittaker, London., Printed by J. Liddell ; 1816. OCLC:282557352 The ReCaptcha terms you entered were incorrect. Please try to match the 2 words shown in the window, or try the audio version. Back to top Rainfall Rainfall is caused by the condensation of the water in air that is being lifted and cooled below its dew point. Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter and most of the rain which falls in those seasons in the south west is from this source. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds and a large proportion of rainfall falls from showers and thunderstorms at this time of year. The air humidity is an important factor determining rainfall and the sea temperature largely controls this.

The sea temperature off SW England is at its maximum in late summer and autumn and is coolest in late winter and spring and as a result rainfall tends to be most in autumn and least in spring. A final factor which greatly affects the rainfall distribution is altitude. Moist air which is forced to ascend hills may be cooled below the dewpoint to produce cloud and rain. A map of rainfall looks very like a topographic map. Annual rainfall totals are about 850-900 mm in the Scilly Isles. Most coastal areas of Cornwall and Devon have 900-1000 mm, but up to double this amount falls on upland such as Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Exmoor. Areas to the lee of high ground have lower totals e.g. 800 mm near Exeter and even 700 mm in the low-lying parts of central Somerset. Further east the Mendip Hills have annual totals exceeding 1100 mm, while the Bath-Bristol area has totals around 800-900 mm.

These figures can be compared to annual totals around 500 mm typical of the driest parts of Eastern England and over 4000 mm in the western Scottish mountains. The course of mean monthly rainfall for 1981 - 2010 for 4 sites is shown below. The highest rainfall is in December and January when the sea is relatively warm still and the Atlantic depressions are most vigorous. The months from April to July are the driest when the sea is relatively cool and the Azores high pressure system exerts more influence. August shows an increase of rainfall over July and starts the inexorable rise in rainfall into the autumn and early winter. The effect of altitude is seen by comparing the records for Plymouth and Princetown which are about 23 km apart, but differ by 403 metres in altitude. The Princetown rainfall is twice the Plymouth rain on average. Monthly rainfall is also very variable. Most months of the year have recorded totals below 20 mm in coastal districts and many below 10 mm. Even at Princetown one May recorded only 7 mm. The highest monthly totals tend to be in the autumn and winter months.

At Plymouth for example every month in the year has had more than 100 mm, but totals in excess of 200 mm have only been recorded from December to February. The numbers of days with rainfall totals of 1 mm or more ('wet days') tend to follow a similar pattern to the monthly rainfall totals. In coastal areas in winter about 15 or 16 days is the norm, but this decreases to 9 or 10 in late spring and summer. In Somerset and the Bristol area there are fewer days having 1 mm or more throughout the year. In winter about 12 or 13 days is normal with about 7 to 9 in summer. The numbers of days increase with altitude and at Princetown for example there are over 18 days in the winter months and 12 to 13 days in summer. The south west peninsula is prone to rare, but very heavy rainfall events lasting from about 5 to 15 hours. The famous storm which devastated Lynmouth in north Devon on 15 August 1952 was one of these, when one place on Exmoor had 228 mm in 12 hours.

Other similar events are the 200 mm at Otterham near Boscastle in Cornwall on 16 August 2004, 203 mm at Camelford in Cornwall on 8 June 1957 and 243 mm in 13 hours at Bruton in Somerset in June 1917. The highest recorded daily rainfall total in UK was at Martinstown in Dorset when 279 mm was recorded on 18 July 1955. Back to top Snowfall The occurrence of snowfall is linked closely with temperature with falls rarely occurring if the temperature is higher than 4 °C. For snow to lie for any length of time then the temperature normally has to be lower than this. In the south west snowfall is normally confined to the months from November to April, though upland areas may have brief falls in October and May. Snow rarely lies outside of the period from December to March. On average, the number of days with snow falling is less than 10 per winter in the islands and coastal districts of Devon and Cornwall, though slightly higher near to the upper Severn Estuary.

About 8-15 days is typical of inland areas with the higher figure in the north east near to the border with Wiltshire. In upland areas such as Exmoor and Dartmoor more than 25 days per year are possible. A rough average increase of about 5 days of snow falling per year per 100 metres increase in elevation has been found typical in the south west. Lying snow is not a frequent occurrence in the south west, and in lowland areas about a third of years do not record any snow lying. In the Scillies and coastal Cornwall and Devon less than 3 days per year is a typical average. This increases to 5-10 days per year inland with the higher figure applying to north eastern areas. Altitude is significant and a rough guide is an increase of about 5 days per year with snow lying per 100 metres increase in elevation. Dartmoor and Exmoor have more than 20 days per year. Compare this with Balmoral, Grampian which has about 60 days with snow lying on average. The monthly averages of days with sleet/snow falling and lying at St.

Mawgan and Yeovilton are shown below (a day of lying snow is counted if the ground is more than 50 % covered at 0900). The graphs show that the coastal site at St Mawgan has a similar incidence of falling snow to Yeovilton which is inland and considerably further east. This demonstrates the effect of altitude since St Mawgan is the higher site. Despite being the mildest region of the British Isles, the south west peninsula has experienced some of the most severe blizzards to affect the country. This is because of a set of circumstances that affect the UK only rarely. If bitterly cold easterly winds from Europe meet a slow moving Atlantic depression situated off south west England then a prolonged snowstorm accompanied by high winds is possible. An example is 18/19 February 1978 when fine snow accompanied by 25 knot easterly winds at temperatures as low as -2 °C deposited around 50 cm of snow in inland Devon. On 8/9 January 1982 conditions were especially severe in the Bristol area where drifts were locally 1 m deep.

Another event, this time from convective showers, on 12 January 1987 produced snow depths of 35 cm (Falmouth), 39 cm (Penzance) and even 23 cm on the Scillies. Also, persistent bands of heavy showers across Cornwall and west Devon from northerly winds occasionally produce substantial snowfalls, such as on 25 November 2005, which resulted in traffic disruption on the A30 across Bodmin Moor.

Question: Which English county lies to the west of Devon?
Answer: Cornwall